CVE-2006-2255 in Community Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Creative Community Portal 1.1 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) article_id parameter to (a) ArticleView.php, (2) forum_id parameter to (b) DiscView.php or (c) Discussions.php, (3) event_id parameter to (d) EventView.php, (4) AddVote and (5) answer_id parameter to (e) PollResults.php, or (7) mid parameter to (f) DiscReply.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2025
The CVE-2006-2255 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Creative Community Portal versions 1.1 and earlier, exposing multiple entry points for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper parameter handling within the application's web interface, creating exploitable pathways that bypass normal security controls. The flaw specifically targets several key PHP scripts including ArticleView.php, DiscView.php, Discussions.php, EventView.php, PollResults.php, and DiscReply.php, each serving distinct community forum functionalities. These scripts process user-supplied parameters without proper sanitization, allowing malicious actors to inject SQL payloads that can manipulate the underlying database structure. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its remote exploitability, meaning attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to compromise the system. According to CWE-89, this represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability where user input flows directly into SQL command construction without adequate escaping or parameterization. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting how attackers can leverage publicly accessible web interfaces to gain unauthorized database access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's data handling architecture where multiple parameters across different modules fail to validate or sanitize incoming data. When an attacker submits malicious input through the article_id parameter in ArticleView.php, the application directly incorporates this value into SQL queries without proper escaping mechanisms. Similarly, the forum_id parameter in DiscView.php and Discussions.php, event_id in EventView.php, AddVote and answer_id in PollResults.php, and mid in DiscReply.php all present identical vulnerabilities. The lack of consistent input validation across these modules indicates a systemic security weakness rather than isolated code defects. Attackers can exploit these entry points to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, deletion, or even privilege escalation within the database environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain deeper system access or deploy additional malicious payloads within the compromised environment.
The operational consequences of CVE-2006-2255 are substantial, potentially enabling complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive community data. Organizations running affected versions of Creative Community Portal face risks including unauthorized data disclosure, data integrity compromise, and potential service disruption. The vulnerability affects not just individual user information but could expose entire community forums, discussion threads, event records, and polling data to unauthorized access. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate forum content, delete discussions, modify user permissions, or extract confidential information stored in the database. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target the application from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible community platforms. Organizations may also face regulatory compliance issues if sensitive data is compromised, particularly in environments where data protection regulations apply. The vulnerability's persistence in older versions of the software indicates that many organizations may have been unknowingly exposed to this risk for extended periods, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term presence within affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-2255 must address the root cause through comprehensive input validation and parameter sanitization. The primary remediation involves implementing proper SQL parameterization techniques across all affected scripts, ensuring that user input is never directly concatenated into SQL queries. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the latest version of Creative Community Portal where these vulnerabilities have been patched, as version 1.1 and earlier are no longer supported. Input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including application-level filtering, database-level constraints, and web application firewall rules. The principle of least privilege should be enforced where database accounts used by the application have minimal required permissions, preventing attackers from performing destructive operations even if they successfully exploit the vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious database access patterns and unauthorized SQL command execution attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components, as this vulnerability demonstrates common security flaws that may exist in other parts of the application stack. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be established to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.